Fort Myers man arrested for lighting an opossum on fire

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Bryan Frank Werner (CREDIT: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

A Fort Myers man is in jail for setting an opossum on fire.

The incident happened on Thursday in the 11800 block of Isle of Palms Drive in Fort Myers Beach.

Deputies were called by a man who witnessed Bryan Frank Werner, 39, lighting an opossum on fire, according to a Facebook post by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

When deputies arrived, they found two people on the property along with the distressed opossum in a metal trap.

The opossum was alive, but suffering from burn wounds. The animal was transported to a local veterinary office for treatment but died on Friday.

Deputies found a long string tied to the metal trap that led to a staircase at the rear of the house as well as a bottle of acetone and a grill lighter.

Forensics pulled fingerprints from the tin acetone can and they matched Werner’s.

He faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty. He remains in Lee County Jail on an out of county warrant.

“This intentional act of violence against an innocent animal is senseless and cruel,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.

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